Gentle Joseki.pdf - Computer Science Club

How to extend?
Diagram 14
Oops, it's a ko!
I guess most of you have seen this appearing in a game or two
already, it is the most common way of handling the black
attachment. Next white can choose between A, B or C. To extend
all the way to D is overdoing things. After white played D he'll
have a hard time dealing with a black play at X or B.
Extending to A or B makes it possible for white to move between
the black stones and try to start a fight. When white has played the
C extension he should not try to cut, see dia 15 and 15a.
Because white 1 is a little far white has to play at 7 in order to guard against the cut at 8 and, at
the same time, keep the struggle for liberties (semeai) alive in the corner by filling one of black's
liberties in. Black, who wasn't born yesterday and read the whole sequence out right from the
start, cuts with perfect timing at 8. This creates an ideal ko-threat black is going to need in the
future. After black 24 it is white's turn to take the ko first. As you can see in dia 15a, however,
black was waiting for this and finally plays the atari of 26. With 28 black takes back the ko and
white cannot find a threat black'll answer usually.
Diagram 15 & 15a
I told you a minute ago I could hear you thinking, well, I'm doing it again:
"So I replayed and studied these 2 diagrams, now what? If I'm lucky I might get a chance to use
this knowledge, someday, in the next century..."
Actually, there are tons of variations during every game, which bare close resemblance to many
corner joseki's. Please have a good look at dia 16.